DNCC plans crash programme to combat mosquito menace

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) authorities will conduct an anti-mosquito crash programme soon to relieve the city dwellers of the mosquito menace, which has intensified with the beginning of the winter season, reports BSS.
“Mosquito menace intensifies during the winter season as water flow remains low due to little rainfall boosting mosquito breeding in water bodies and canals. So the DSCC has planned to conduct an anti-mosquito crash programme soon alongside the regular fogging to relieve the city dwellers of the menace,” Chief Health Officer of the DSCC Brig Gen Dr Sheikh Salahuddin told the news agency.
A crash programme was carried out simultaneously in five zones of the city corporation last month, Salahuddin said, adding that another programme would be conducted this month as soon as possible.
Four spray-men were employed for each ward of the DSCC to implement the fogging programme, he said, adding DSCC’s regional mosquito supervisors and local councilors are monitoring activities of the programme.
The health officer also said use of medicine in eliminating mosquito was increased 30 to 40 percent this year compared to previous year. But excessive use of medicine may be harmful to the city dwellers, he added.
A resident of the city’s Hazaribagh area Nurul Islam said, “The mosquito menace is increasing day by day in the city. We are helpless to mosquito”.
“Mosquito bites everywhere, in our homes and offices, educational institutions and workplace,” he said, adding “No means, including mosquito-net, coil or electric bat, can help us get rid of the menace”.
The city dwellers allege that the mosquito crews do not perform their duties properly in their respective areas.
But the health officer denied the allegation saying that, “Mosquito crews are given task on weekly basis. The area of a ward is so large that they may not be seen on the same spot regularly”.
About Taka 36.80 crore has been allocated in the current fiscal year for conducting anti-mosquito programmes in the city. Of the amount, Taka 16.80 crore is for DSCC and Taka 20 crore for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
The city dwellers also alleged that the fogging takes place in the areas preferred by local councilors and city corporation officials. In some places, the medicine is sprayed twice or thrice a month, but anti-mosquito drive is not seen in others areas even in six months, they said.
According to the city corporation sources, the DSCC has 183 spray-men, 151 crews and 10 supervisors in the mosquito elimination division. It has 387 fogger machines, 438 hand-driven machines, 36 wheel-borrow machines, 2 ULV machines, 5 power sprayers and one knapsack power sprayer.